Renowned left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel has become the second most successful first-class wicket-taker in the Central Stags’ 74-year team history, as Central turns the screws on Plunket Shield leader Northern Districts in Mount Maunganui.
With his best figures yet in the Plunket Shield championship, Ajaz overtook retired seamer Michael Mason’s 263 wickets when he had ND allrounder Brett Hampton caught at slip by Will Clark — the wicket also conferring Patel’s 26th first-class bag (and 19th for the Stags).
Former Test off-spinner Dave O’Sullivan’s phenomenal Stags record of 392 wickets remains a long way out in front, but Ajaz went on to add the last two Northern Districts wickets to his bag to finish with 7/78: his first haul of seven in the national first-class arena cementing a 96-run first-innings lead for the Stags.
By stumps, that lead had grown to 213, the Stags set to resume today, Sunday March 3 at 117/2 after having taken seven of the eight first innings points available to them in this match.
With eight wickets in hand and a set batsman in Curtis Heaphy who reached his second half century of the game before stumps, all eyes will be on if and when captain Greg Hay will declare on the last day today — and whether an incoming weather front will stay away from Bay Oval long enough as Northern Districts attempts to stop the Stags from charging up the table.
Earlier, Bay of Plenty local and ND first drop Bharat Popli achieved his eighth first-class century, top-scoring for Northern with 111 in their first innings reply of 331. It was Bharat’s fifth first-class century against the Stags, and the second at his hometown home ground.
First innings bonus points (completed)
Northern Districts: 5
Central Stags: 7
The other two matches in the fifth of the eight championship rounds are both further advanced — with a dramatic turnaround in fortunes for hosts Canterbury in Rangiora.
After having powered to 526 in their first innings a couple of days ago, Canterbury’s second innings saw them bowled out for a skimpy 109 on Saturday as the Wellington Firebirds fought back to haul themselves right back into the game.
It goes down in the Plunket Shield records as the largest variance between a team’s first and second innings.
The Firebirds had earlier conceded a first-innings deficit of 218 after they had been bowled out for 308, Angus McKenzie taking a first-class career best 4/64 for Canterbury.
Canterbury’s second dig got off to a horror start. Fresh off his century before lunch on the opening day, Chad Bowes was on his way for a four-ball duck thanks to Nathan Smith, then first drop Ken McClure — in his first game back from a protracted injury break — had the cruel misfortune to be struck on the back of the neck while running a quick single, retiring hurt after only 13 balls.
Canterbury’s other first-innings centurion, Rhys Mariu, was also soon on his way at the hands of allrounder Smith — who proceeded to rip through the Canterbury line-up to finish with a blistering bag of 6/36 off just 14.4 overs, his new career best in first-class cricket. His previous best had been 6/54 for the Firebirds two seasons ago.
After he snared the last wicket, that left the Firebirds with an unexpectedly tantalising chase of 328 in almost four sessions to win. They’d reached 54/2 by stumps, meaning a further 274 will be required today if the second-placed Wellingtonians are to maintain their edge over the chasing pack.
First innings bonus points (completed)
Canterbury: 8 (maximum achieved)
Wellington Firebirds: 5
In Dunedin, Auckland Aces captain Robbie O’Donnell declared his team’s second innings at 295/4, setting the Otago Volts at chase of 387 to win, of which 380 will be needing on the final day today.
The Volts had conceded a first-innings deficit of 91 before the O’Donnell brothers, opener Will and number four Robbie, made their third day at University of Otago Oval a long one.
But the elder O’Donnell marched on to an unbeaten 151* off just 146 balls, supported by George Worker who contributed a half century before he was also run out by Phillips, having made the fatal error of jogging through for a proposed easy single whilst Phillips was anywhere near the ball.
O’Donnell’s century was his ninth for his side with his team - champions in this format just two years ago — hoping to get lift-off from the bottom of the table tomorrow, if they can dismiss the Volts.
First innings bonus points (completed)
Otago Volts: 7
Auckland Aces: 8 (maximum achieved)
All the free admission Plunket Shield matches are scheduled to resume at 10.30am, with livescores at www.nzc.nz and free livestreaming on NZC's YouTube channel.
ROUND FIVE • PLUNKET SHIELD
Thursday 29 February-Sunday 1 March 2024
At Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
Northern Districts (1) v Central Stags (3)
At Mainpower Oval, Rangiora
Canterbury (4) v Wellington Firebirds (2)
At University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
Otago Volts (5) v Auckland Aces (6)
POINTS SNAPSHOT (After 4 of 8 championship rounds) - First innings bonus points are added only at the conclusion of each match
Northern Districts 58
Wellington Firebirds 47
Central Stags 43
Canterbury 36
Otago Volts 20
Auckland Aces 17
• Plunket Shield Competition Centre, player stats and full Points Table
Official hashtag: #plunketshield
Guide to Team Names — NZC Domestic Cricket (men's)
Plunket Shield & The Ford Trophy Super Smash
Canterbury Canterbury Kings
Northern Districts Northern Brave
Central Stags Central Stags
Wellington Firebirds Wellington Firebirds
Auckland Aces Auckland Aces
Otago Volts Otago Volts
Hallyburton Johnstone Shield Super Smash
Canterbury Magicians Canterbury Magicians
Northern Districts Northern Brave
Central Hinds Central Hinds
Wellington Blaze Wellington Blaze
Auckland Hearts Auckland Hearts
Otago Sparks Otago Sparks
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